Morena Senator Fernández Noroña takes leave to visit Palestine this weekend

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October 24, 2025

Mexican Senator Gerardo Fernández Noroña of the Morena party has taken a 10-day leave to travel to the Middle East, saying he will meet with Palestinian authorities and bear witness to “the genocide” in Gaza.

The trip was organized by the Palestinian Authority and his flight will be paid for by the United Arab Emirates, he said.

In a news conference this week, Fernández Noroña said he was accepting an invitation issued over the summer, when he served as president of the Senate, Mexico’s 128-member upper house.

His time in the rotating position ended Aug. 31, but the at-large senator elected by proportional representation (he doesn’t represent a particular state) is just 14 months into his six-year term.

In August, the Mexico City native told reporters his goal was to “rescue orphaned Palestinian children” and offer them refuge in Mexico, framing it as a humanitarian mission. However, the proposed trip did not take place then.

This week, he said, “Despite the agreed-upon ceasefire, the genocide continues,” explaining plans to meet in the UAE and Jordan while spending “the bulk of my time” in Palestine — the geographically contiguous West Bank and East Jerusalem, and the separate, war-ravaged Gaza Strip.

“If the Palestinian Authority has a visit to Gaza planned, I’ll do it,” he added.

The senator said he was not legally required to request leave, but chose to do so given public scrutiny.

His absence began Thursday and will run through Sunday, Nov. 2, the final day of Día de los Muertos celebrations.

Fernández Noroña downplayed the risk of U.S. retaliation, saying having his visa revoked is the worst that could happen.

Senator Alejandro Murat, chair of the Senate’s Foreign Relations Committee, defended the trip as part of “parliamentary diplomacy.”

But opposition figures and activists questioned the timing and financing.

Cecilia Patricia “Ceci” Flores, the founder and national leader of the Madres Buscadoras de Sonora — a collective of mothers that searches for Mexico’s missing persons — invited Fernández Noroña to join her mission instead of flying more than 12,000 kilometers to the Middle East.

“You don’t need to go so far to satisfy that urge to help,” she wrote on social media, offering to fund his trip to Sinaloa to help find her son, missing since 2015. “In Mexico, we’re short on hands and the willingness to end the massacre that’s taking our children from us.”

Guillermo Valencia, leader of the Institutional Revolutionary Party (PRI) in Michoacán, called Fernández Noroña’s move “hypocrisy,” urging him to “speak up for the victims” at home.

(Earlier this year, a Senate session erupted into a fistfight between PRI party leader Alejandro “Alito” Moreno and then-Senate president Fernández Noroña.)

In an opinion column in El País, journalist Zedryk Raziel accused the senator of “stumbling over his own words,” highlighting doubts about whether he can legally let a foreign government fund his trip. He cited experts who called the visit “reckless” given that Noroña is no longer Senate president and remains under scrutiny for alleged ethical lapses, including luxury travel and undeclared assets.

Fernández Noroña dismissed the criticism, insisting his trip reflects “solidarity with the Palestinian people” and rejecting claims of impropriety.

“Any senator can receive this type of invitation,” he said.

With reports from El Universal, La Jornada, Infobae and El País

Report: How a US company helped a Mexican cartel smuggle US $12 million of fuel into Ensenada

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MND Staff

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October 24, 2025

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An oil tanker bearing the name Torm Agnes from Singapore — (Tomasello Letterio/Shipspotting)

In a massive, 4,600-word investigative report, the news agency Reuters detailed how a petroleum products company from Houston teamed up with a notorious Mexican cartel to smuggle US $12 million of fuel into Mexico.

The report, which traced the route of a Denmark-flagged vessel named the Torm Agnes, found that the Jalisco New Generation Cartel (CJNG) “has mastered the use of tankers to smuggle fuel to Mexico” and that “U.S. players are helping.”

Reuters identified a Houston-based company — Ikon Midstream — as a participant in the multi-million-dollar operation it describes as taking place at the Port of Ensenada in Baja California.

An attorney for Ikon Midstream told Reuters in an Oct. 18 email to stop contacting his clients, declaring that “No one will speak to your reporter!” A Torm spokesman said the company “stopped doing business with Ikon Midstream just weeks after the Ensenada incident.”

Port officials declined to speak to the news agency. Mexico’s state-owned oil company Pemex, its Tax Administration Service and the National Customs Agency also declined to comment.

More than US $20 billion worth of illegal fuel is being smuggled into Mexico by criminal gangs each year. A report issued by consulting company PetroIntelligence in May estimated that Mexico is losing US $24 million daily due to “huachicoleo” (as fuel-smuggling is known colloquially in Mexico) calculating lost tax revenues in excess of US $9.6 billion.

Reuters reported that “fuel smuggling has grown so fast that bootleg imports now account for as much as one-third of Mexico’s diesel and gasoline market,” alarming agencies on both sides of the border.

The U.S. government has offered up to US $10 million for information related to huachicoleo.

Tracing the smuggling route

Reuters described its report as the “first … full account” of the Torm Agnes’s journey which loaded fuel in Canada and discharged its payload in Ensenada and another Mexican port before beating a hasty retreat.

The tanker’s exploits — and its links to Ikon Midstream — were reported by Mexican media outlets in May but Reuters carried out a full investigation, speaking to “more than 50 people with knowledge of the racket” and reviewing cargo documents and port records.

The scheme “exploits loopholes in the vast and complex U.S. energy sector, touching a host of entities including oil majors, shipping companies and government agencies,” Reuters explained.

The Torm Agnes was transporting diesel from Canada, but by the time it reached Ensenada, “its cargo had transformed – at least on paper – into a petrochemical used to make industrial lubricants.”

The Monterrey-based company Intanza — which has no website, no social media presence and utilizes a false address — was the recipient of the fuel. Intanza is reportedly a front company for the Jalisco New Generation Cartel (CJNG).

Essentially, the operation is “a lucrative tax dodge,” often costing the Mexican treasury upwards of 50% of the cargo’s value, “by declaring the foreign fuel to be some other type of petroleum product that’s exempt from the duty.”

The CJNG is the unquestioned leader in huachicoleo, according to Mexican and U.S. security sources, and has taken it to a new level.

Of particular concern to the Mexican government are accusations that senior government officials are involved in fuel-smuggling networks. Last month, several high-ranking members of the Navy were among 14 arrested on huachicoleo charges.

President Sheinbaum weighs in

Asked about Reuters’ report at her Thursday morning press conference, President Claudia Sheinbaum said she didn’t know whether the case detailed by the news agency was related to investigations being carried out by the federal Attorney General’s Office (FGR).

“The Attorney General’s Office also does its own investigations,” she stressed.

Mexico’s Sheinbaum: US Individuals Involved in Fuel Smuggling | Reuters Investigation

Watch this video on YouTube

Sheinbaum didn’t address the details of Reuters’ report, but spoke more broadly about the problem of huachicol fiscal — the evasion of the tax due on imported fuel by fraudulently declaring foreign fuel as lubricants or another product exempt from the applicable excise.

“There are several investigation files related to this matter in the Attorney General’s Office,” she said.

“Some were already presented to a judge in order to obtain arrest warrants,” Sheinbaum said.

She highlighted that “businesspeople” from the United States are mentioned in the FGR’s files, indicating that wasn’t a surprise given that fuel from the U.S. has illegally entered Mexico.

Sheinbaum said that the quantity of illegal fuel entering Mexico has declined “significantly,” and linked the reduction to “greater vigilance” in customs as well as huchicol fiscal-related arrests that have been made.

She said that the reduction in the illegal entry of fuel was reflected in an increase in the sales of state oil company Pemex and other firms that “legally” import fuel.

Sheinbaum also said that the U.S. Department of Justice is investigating fuel smuggling.

In April, a husband and wife from Utah were arrested on charges of smuggling US $300 million worth of crude oil into the U.S. from Mexico. Their adult sons were also indicted in connection with the alleged crime.

With reports from La Jornada, El Economista, N+ and Reuters

**Mexico News Daily staff writer Peter Davies contributed to this report.

Mexico City Grand Prix kicks off at the Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez

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MND Staff

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October 24, 2025

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A Formula 1 race car drives in front of a sign reading Mexico City — Red Bull test driver Ayumu Iwasa warms up Friday in Mexico City. (X/Formula 1)

Months after its contract with Formula 1 was extended through 2028, the Mexico City Grand Prix will celebrate the 10th anniversary of its 2015 return when F1 roars into the Mexican capital this weekend.

The 20-car race will begin Sunday at 2 p.m. local time at the Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez, a high-altitude, thin-air circuit that tests machines and drivers alike.

An aerial view of Mexico City's Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez race track — The main race will take place Sunday at Mexico City’s historic Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez. (Formula 1)

Defending four-time world champion Max Verstappen of Oracle Red Bull Racing will enter the 305.6-kilometer race 40 points behind McLaren’s Oscar Piastri in the standings. The gap looked unreachable earlier this season but has tightened after Verstappen’s dominant Oct. 19 win in Austin, Texas.

Sitting 2,200 meters above sea level, the Mexico City racetrack poses unique challenges — low grip for the tires, reduced air density and extreme cooling demands. The altitude is equal to 7,218 feet above sea level, or 1.37 miles.

“The car always feels low on grip and on the edge around here,” former Renault driver Jolyon Palmer said.

With its mix of fast straights and slow, technical sections — 17 turns on each of its 71 laps — it remains one of the sport’s trickiest circuits.

A diagram showing the layout of the Mexico City race track at the Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez — The Mexico City track has a formidable reputation thanks to a mix of fast, straight sections and tricky turns. (Formula 1)

Verstappen — whose five wins in Mexico City between 2017 and 2023 are the most ever in the race’s history — has 306 points as he pursues his fifth consecutive season title.

Piastri leads with 346, followed by teammate Lando Norris 14 points back, setting up a fierce three-way fight with five races left on the 2025 calendar.

McLaren has already wrapped up its second straight Constructors’ Championship with 678 points, with Mercedes  (341), Ferrari  (334) and Red Bull (331) well behind.

Spaniard Carlos Sainz, who won for Ferrari last year in Mexico, returns seeking redemption after a rough outing and a five-place grid penalty in Austin.

Guadalajara native Sergio “Checo” Pérez, a 13-year F1 veteran who parted ways with Red Bull Racing in December, won’t compete this weekend as he prepares for Cadillac’s 2026 Formula 1 debut.

Instead, hometown fans will look to IndyCar star Pato O’Ward, who was scheduled to participate in Friday’s opening practice.

Carlos Sainz stands on his car in the center of the Mexico City race track — Spanish driver Carlos Sainz is hoping for a second consecutive title after winning the Mexico City Grand Prix in 2024. (Formula 1)

Pérez, whose dead-last finish in Mexico City last year might have sealed his fate with Red Bull, has been back in the capital this week, however.

On Thursday he participated with pro soccer players and other athletes in an exhibition soccer match that also involved young people living on the streets or in addiction rehabilitation. The 35-year-old scored three goals.

The racing weekend is set to follow a traditional format, with three practice sessions Friday and Saturday, qualifying on Saturday and the main event Grand Prix on Sunday.

One new twist is the Gordon Ramsay “F1 Garage.” Fans who have purchased premium hospitality packages — starting at 207,970 pesos per person (US $11,288) — will have access to the celebrity chef’s curated gourmet menu, open bar, pit lane views and VIP paddock access.

This year’s 10th-year-anniversary posters were created by Jorge Molina, a Mexican illustrator and comic artist well known for his work with Marvel and DC Comics. Using Mexican cultural motifs, he also created Ferrari’s race poster.

The Mexico City Grand Prix made its modern return to Formula 1 in 2015, following a 23-year absence from the calendar. After 1992, the race was taken off the F1 calendar largely due to safety issues, track surface deterioration and Mexico City air pollution concerns.

F1 had raced in CDMX from 1963 to 1970, with a second stretch from 1986 to 1992. By 2015, the circuit had undergone major renovations.

With reports from ESPN Deportes, The Athletic, The Sporting News and Formula1.com

Shootings shake Sinaloa state capital after capture of 10 cartel operators

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MND Staff

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October 24, 2025

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Police cars with lights flashing surround a damaged car crashed into a pole at night in Culiacán, Sinaloa — Violence broke out in Culiacán Tuesday night and Wednesday morning after a government operation took out an alleged faction leader and arrested several suspected cartel members. (José Betanzos Zárate/Cuartoscuro)

The “Los Chapitos” faction of the Sinaloa cartel suffered a heavy blow this week as federal authorities killed a key operational leader of the notorious crime gang and arrested 10 others, six of them high-ranking in the organization.

The cartel responded promptly to Tuesday’s joint operation involving the Security Ministry, the Defense Ministry and Sinaloa police officers, by engaging in shootouts across the city of Culiacán — the state capital. The violence left four people dead.

Six men with their hands ziptied and their eyes censored with black bars for privacy, lined up in front of a table filled with high caliber guns, surrounded by Mexican military and National Guard — Security forces detained six men during the initial operation, during which a faction leader was killed. (Defensa)

In a Wednesday post on X, Security Minister Omar García Harfuch confirmed that Luis Ezequiel “N,” alias “El Morral” and presumed leader of “Los Chapitos,” was killed during the operation. He also said six suspects arrested in the initial action have been linked to homicides, drug trafficking, kidnapping and armed attacks on police officials.

Among those detained are José Manuel “N,” alias “Mono Canelo,” and Juan Carlos “N,” alias “Chango,” both of whom were arrested in December and later released by a judge.

Four others — including two minors — were apprehended after the ensuing shootouts.

García Harfuch reported that authorities confiscated more than 500 kilos and 130 liters of methamphetamine, 211,000 fentanyl pills and 103 doses of marijuana, while also dismantling a clandestine laboratory with more than 3,400 liters of chemical precursors. Officials also seized four rifles (three 7.62 x 39 mm caliber and one 5.56), a 9 mm pistol and 16 magazines, as well as vests with ballistic plates and a stolen Toyota Corolla.

Tuesday’s wide-ranging violence claimed four lives and wreaked havoc across the embattled state capital where just over a month ago residents took to the streets to protest the lack of security.

The shootings and pursuits were concentrated in the northern and southern extremes of Culiacán, generating a new wave of panic among the population.

“Four people were killed and six others injured in two separate incidents,” Feliciano Castro, the Sinaloa governor’s chief of staff, told reporters Tuesday night.

Two of the dead, who were found inside a Toyota Camry at the entrance to Espacio Barcelona, were allegedly involved in the cartel counterattack and were killed after a pursuit.

A X social media post in which Security Minister García Harfuch reported the confiscation of over 500 kilos and 130 liters of methamphetamine, 211,000 fentanyl pills and 103 doses of marijuana, with photos of a dismantled drug lab. — The Security Minister reported the confiscation of large quantities of drugs around the state, the day after an operation killed alleged cartel leader “El Morral.” (X/Omar García Harfuch)

“State prosecutors are conducting the corresponding investigations to determine the facts,” Castro said, adding that some of the shootout victims were apparently innocent bystanders.

One of the slain was struck by gunfire on a city bus and details about the fourth casualty had not been released.

Journalists questioned Castro about the wisdom of wide-ranging gun battles in the city, asking if more effective protocols might be put in place.

“Everything will invariably be reviewed,” he said. “We deal with this each day.”

Culiacán Mayor Juan de Dios Gámez lamented the loss of life and described Tuesday as “a difficult and delicate day,” while insisting that there is coordination between the three levels of government.

Governor Rubén Rocha explained Tuesday’s violence as a consequence of recent security operations against the organized crime elements that have infiltrated the city.

The state of Sinaloa and especially the capital have been under siege since warring factions of the Sinaloa cartel took up arms against each other more than 13 months ago.

With reports from El Universal, Reforma, El Sol de Sinaloa and Univision

Inflation in Mexico eases to 3.63%, beating analysts’ predictions

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MND Staff

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October 24, 2025

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Vegetable prices displayed at a Mexican market — A decrease in the cost of fruit and vegetables helped bring inflation down to below September’s rate, but the price of processed food and meat went up. (Cuartoscuro)

Inflation in Mexico declined more than expected in the first half of October, falling to an annual headline rate of 3.63%, according to official data.

The decline from a headline rate of 3.78% in the second half of September and 3.76% across last month came after inflation increased during four consecutive quincenas, or 15-day periods.

The 3.63% headline rate reported by national statistics agency INEGI on Thursday is lower than both the 3.73% median forecast of analysts surveyed by Bloomberg and the 3.70% prediction of analysts polled by Reuters. It is 0.79 percentage points lower than the highest annual inflation rate so far in 2025, which was 4.42% in May.

The slowing of inflation beyond expectations in early October likely gives the Bank of Mexico (Banxico) board leeway to extend its monetary policy easing cycle.

The central bank’s board has voted in favor of reducing Banxico’s benchmark interest rate at each of its last 10 monetary policy meetings. The bank’s key rate is now set at 7.5%, its lowest level since May 2022.

Banxico’s board will hold its next monetary policy meeting on Nov. 6. The central bank targets 3% inflation, but tolerates a 2-4% range.

Core inflation also declines

INEGI reported on Thursday that Mexico’s core inflation rate was 4.24% in the first half of October, down from 4.28% across September. Unlike the headline rate, which encompasses all goods and services, core inflation excludes food and energy prices, which are subject to volatility.

INEGI also reported that consumer prices rose 0.28% in the first half of October compared to the second half of September.

INEGI’s data shows that processed food, beverages and tobacco were 5.24% more expensive in the first half of October than a year earlier. Prices for non-food goods rose 3.06% annually, while services were 4.42% more expensive.

Low inflation for the fresh food category — fruit, vegetables and meat — helped moderate inflation in the first half of October. Annual inflation for the category was just 1.06%. That figure came from an 8.27% annual increase in meat prices and an 8.38% annual decrease in the cost of fruit and vegetables.

Energy prices, including those for electricity and gasoline, increased 1.99% annually, according to INEGI.

Compared to the second half of September, electricity prices shot up 17.65% due to the conclusion of the “warm season” power rates program in 18 cities including Mérida, Monterrey, Cancún and Veracruz.

With reports from El Economista and Bloomberg

Where are the 8 newest Michelin Key hotels in Mexico

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Bethany Platanella

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October 24, 2025

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Mexico City is home to several of the nation's Michelin Key awarded properties. Where are the others, and why were they chosen? (Unsplash/Oscar Reygo)

Whether it’s the red-washed walls, arched doorways, vibrant textiles or cactus accents, Mexico’s architecture has got a bold style all its own — just one of the reasons that many of Mexico’s hotels are ranked among the best of the best from a guide that is itself considered the best of the best: the Michelin Guide, which this month awarded its newest Key hotel rating to eight more luxury properties across Mexico.

In 2024, the prestigious publication long known for rating the world’s chefs with coveted stars also began rating accommodations — on a scale of one to three keys — for standout architecture and interior design, service quality, overall character, value for price and sense of place.

The Michelin Guide Key award is as prestigious for hotels as its Star ratings are for restaurants. (Michelin)

The designation in October of eight new Michelin Key hotels in Mexico brings the country’s total to nearly 100 recognized establishments, redefining what hospitality can be. From cenote-studded retreats in Tulum to art gallery hotels in Mexico City, these new additions prove that Mexico’s luxury hotel scene is a force to be reckoned with.

Mexico’s tourism powerhouse moment

These latest Michelin Key hotel designations are just another example of how the hospitality industry in Mexico is having quite the moment. In 2024, the country welcomed 45.04 million international tourists, generating a record US $32.96 billion in tourism revenue — a figure that represents a 7.4% increase from the previous year, according to INEGI.

Why? Because Mexico literally has it all: beautiful beaches, rich history, cultural heritage, diverse wildlife, unrivaled cuisine, joyful festivals, endless museums, incredible hiking … the list goes on and on.

In 2024, Mexico’s capital was named the Best Cultural City in the World by Time Out magazine, while 18 Mexico City restaurants earned Michelin stars, and Quintonil ranked 7th in the World’s 50 Best Restaurants list.

So when a weighty international recognition like Michelin Keys arrives, it validates what many of us already know: Mexico offers a wide variety of world-class experiences with commitment to excellence that rival global destinations from New York to Japan.

With nearly 100 hotels now holding Michelin Keys, Mexico has established itself as a serious hospitality destination for luxury travelers.

Mexico’s 8 new game-changing Michelin Key hotels

Alexander Hotel in Mexico City — The Alexander Hotel in the Torre Virreyes skyscraper is not only visually stunning, but it has also been named a Key award winner for 2025 by the Michelin Guide. (Alexander Hotel)

And the winners are … all over the country, it turns out. Starting with the pulsing capital and weaving our way up and down the coast, here are the eight newest Michelin Key designations for hotels in Mexico, released this month.

Mexico City: Where urban sophistication meets Mexican soul

The Alexander Hotel represents the pinnacle of Mexico City luxury, occupying two floors of the city’s distinctive Torre Virreyes skyscraper. A trapezoid-shaped architectural masterpiece that seems to float over Bosque de Chapultepec, it provides a bird’s-eye view of Mexico City’s iconic sprawling green park. Alexander has 26 modern suites, the city’s only caviar bar and floor-to-ceiling windows that offer a glimpse of how massive the capital truly is. — One Michelin Key.

UMA Casa is an intimate but ultra-stylish nine-room family-owned boutique hotel nestled in the exclusive Lomas de Chapultepec neighborhood. Each curated corner in UMA Casa tells a story celebrating Mexican identity: Room names represent native fruits and herbs, colors reflect regional spices and the breakfast menu features native ingredients. Aware that it’s located in the heart of a megalopolis, UMA Casa fills its spaces with wood, natural fibers and vegetation, giving its guests a peaceful refuge from Mexico City’s noisy chaos. Want to relax even more? They also provide massage services and a fully equipped yoga space. — One Michelin Key.

Maison Celeste takes the art-hotel concept to new heights: Inside the historic Roma Norte mansion is a unique blend of art gallery and boutique property. Owners forewent a traditional lobby to instead showcase creative exhibitions and rotating pop-up shops, where you can buy art, stylish clothing and home decor items created by Mexican designers. The five bedrooms upstairs are each defined by a single color and feature varying styles, from midcentury modern to antique. — One Michelin Key.

Casona Roma Norte rounds out the capital’s 2025 additions with its impossible-to-miss salmon-pink Belle Époque facade. The hotel’s charm lies in the thoughtful accents — Santiago Arau photography, Mexican crafts and welcome glasses of wine or Champagne. Dining here is an art, and guests can opt between classic Mexican breakfasts, Sinaloan-Japanese fusion, a Matcha Tea Room and an intimate agave tasting room in the stylish basement. — One Michelin Key.

Coastal escapes: Where nature meets luxury

Wakax Hacienda is ignoring Tulum’s backlash from the tourism industry and proudly accepting its upgrade from one to two Michelin Keys. Completely removed from the beachside town’s famous party scene, the property boasts its own private freshwater cenotes and small lake. Guests can paddleboard, bike through the jungle or take night swims in illuminated cenotes — basically, you can experience what Tulum used to be before the crowds arrived. — Two Michelin Keys.

Gorgeous period interior design is one of the reasons the Todos Santos Boutique Hotel was awarded a Michelin Guide Key in 2025. (Todos Santos Boutique Hotel)

Hotel Humano brings Grupo Habita’s minimalist luxury to Puerto Escondido’s surf culture. Tucked along a pedestrian-only lane in La Punta Zicatela, the hotel’s graceful design uses natural elements to evoke a sense of calm. Auburn-tinged concrete, polished tropical wood and handmade tiles adorn 39 rooms with either garden patios or ocean views. Start your day with yoga at sunrise, then work out the kinks with a relaxing massage, then relax with a locally sourced coffee in their minimalist café. The rooftop bar is the real draw, though, because who doesn’t want to sip on a sunset cocktail above the roaring Pacific? — One Michelin Key.

Desierto Azul in Baja California Sur caters to the wellness crowd that’s flocking with intensity to Todos Santos. Four open-layout cottages perch around an Instagram-worthy saltwater infinity pool — heated by solar power! Everything from the lampshades to the linens are crafted from natural materials, and Desierto Azul has an on-site plant-based cooking studio and a gluten-free bakery, loved by its health-conscious guests. — One Michelin Key.

Todos Santos Boutique Hotel sits in the heart of Baja California Sur’s first Pueblo Mágico and remakes the abode of a Spanish countess. Lodging comprises 10 villas and suites — each featuring balconies, plunge pools or both — and at least one hand-painted mural depicting a scene in Mexican history. But it’s in the La Copa cocktail bar and 1890 restaurant where you can really disconnect, as a moody atmosphere and leather armchairs transport you back in time. — One Michelin Key.

A new standard in Mexican hospitality

This upsurge of Michelin key hotels in Mexico, ranging from jungle retreats to urban sanctuaries, positions Mexico as a luxury destination where travelers can find world-class experiences in virtually any setting they prefer.

These eight newest designations for 2025 prove that the Mexican hospitality industry’s commitment to innovate, surprise and set new standards for travel is just getting started.

Bethany Platanella is a travel planner and lifestyle writer based in Mexico City. She lives for the dopamine hit that comes directly after booking a plane ticket, exploring local markets, practicing yoga and munching on fresh tortillas. Sign up to receive her Sunday Love Letters to your inbox, peruse her blog or follow her on Instagram.

Pemex pipeline spills into Veracruz’s Pantepec River, complicating flood cleanup

By

MND Staff

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October 23, 2025

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A plume of oil in a river — The plume of oil extended at least 7 km (5 mi) down the Pantepec River. (via Diario de Yucatán)

The recent heavy rain in Veracruz damaged a section of the Poza Rica-Ciudad Madero petroleum pipeline, leading to a significant oil spill in the Pantepec River, according to the state oil company Pemex.

Pemex said in a statement on Tuesday that it had repaired the affected section of its pipeline, which is located in the municipality of Álamo Temapache in northern Veracruz.

Engineers stand around an oil pipeline running along a muddy river bank — Pemex said on Wednesday that the pipeline had resumed operations. (Pemex)

Pemex said that it responded “immediately” to the pipeline’s “loss of containment” through “the activation of industrial and environmental safety protocols.”

It didn’t say when the damage to the pipeline and the resultant oil spill occurred. Torrential rain fell in Veracruz and the neighboring states of Puebla, Hidalgo and San Luis Potosí two weeks ago, causing widespread flooding that has claimed at least 79 lives.

A resident of Álamo, a town on the Pantepec River that was severely affected by flooding, told the Associated Press that locals became aware of the oil spill last weekend.

“Sincerely, we’re very worried,” Arturo de Luna said.

A video posted to social media showed a splotchy spill of oil on the muddy brown water of the Pantepec River. The spill extended into the Tuxpan River, which is part of the same river system.

Pemex said that the spill occurred along an eight-kilometer-long stretch of river, but local residents say the damage is more extensive, the news site Latinus reported.

Recovery of ecosystem could take years, activist says

Alejandra Jiménez, an activist with the water-focused environmental organization Foundation Chalchi, told the Associated Press earlier this week that it was too early to fully assess the impact of the oil spill. However, she said that the recovery of the ecosystem could take years.

“The prevention phase didn’t happen, so now they have to keep it from spreading,” Jiménez said.

A group of politicians stand on a bridge about the Pantepec River in Veracruz — President Sheinbaum visited the Pantepec River just last week to inspect the recovery process after the area was hit by torrential rain and flooding earlier this month. (Presidencia/Cuartoscuro)

The Pantepec River is a significant river, originating in the state of Hidalgo and emptying into the Gulf of Mexico near Tuxpan, Veracruz. It supplies water for a number of communities including Tuxpan.

According to the news magazine Proceso, local residents reported that oil had reached Veracruz Water Commission pumps that supply water to Tuxpan. Residents also reported a “strong smell of fuel,” Proceso said.

Containment and cleanup

Pemex said Tuesday that federal, state and municipal authorities had collaborated to install two containment barriers and oil-absorbing booms in the Pantepec River.

The state oil company also said that “pumping and surface collection equipment” was being used to remove oil from the river.

“With the main operations already completed, Pemex continues cleanup and remediation work along the riverbanks and nearby areas. During the day, three additional [containment] barriers will be installed. Specialized personnel are carrying out cleaning tasks, waste collection, and the application of absorbent materials to restore the environment’s natural conditions,” Pemex said Tuesday.

In a separate statement also issued on Tuesday, the state oil company said that “more than 180,000 liters of hydrocarbons” had been “recovered” following the installation of oil-absorbing barriers.

A week after Mexico’s floods, the death toll is at 72 and dozens remain missing

It noted that more than 600 people, including 500 from Pemex and the Mexican Navy, were responding to the situation. Some of those workers were carrying out operations of “suction and removal of hydrocarbons contained in the barriers,” Pemex said.

Oil removed from the river was taken away in Pemex tanker trucks.

On Wednesday, Pemex said that “intense” work to contain and clean up the oil spill — including the installation of additional oil-absorbing barriers — was continuing. The state oil company also said that the Poza Rica-Madero pipeline had “safely resumed operations.”

For its part, the Navy Ministry (SEMAR) said on Wednesday that the oil spill had been contained. The ministry said that meteorological and tidal conditions were being monitored in order to make any necessary adjustments to “contention, recovery and cleanup operations.”

“… This institution is carrying out precise monitoring, employing two airplanes, a helicopter, two drones, seven vessels, and ten vehicles of the Mexican Navy,” SEMAR said.

The ministry explained that the navy is conducting “reconnaissance flights as well as maritime and land patrols in the municipalities at greatest risk, such as Álamo and Tuxpan, in order to monitor the movement of hydrocarbons in the Pantepec River through direct observation.”

With reports from Proceso, Latinus, El Economista and AP

Brazilian manufacturer, facing 50% US tariffs, looks to invest in Mexico

By

MND Staff

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October 23, 2025

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An engineer in a forklift next to a piece of machinery labeled WEG — WEG, a Brazilian industrial manufacturer, plans to invest in Mexico as its Brazilian factories face high U.S. tariffs. (via Rio Times)

Brazilian company WEG, known for manufacturing electric motors, transformers and industrial equipment, is accelerating its expansion in Mexico in direct response to the new tariffs imposed by the United States government on industrial products originating in Brazil.

The U.S. hit the South American country with a 50% tariff, one of the highest in the world. This has led WEG to relocate part of its production to Mexico, which maintains preferential access to the North American market under the USMCA free trade deal.

Robotic arms in a manufacturing facility — WEG’s Mexico factories produce motors, transformers and industrial coatings, among other products. (Simon Kadula / Unsplash)

“We’ve been working to accelerate capacity investments in Mexico,” Chief Financial Officer André Luís Rodrigues said in an interview. “We don’t see this situation lasting for a long period, but it’s hard to say when it will be reversed.”

Rodrigues said in July that the company had been diversifying its production geographically since before Trump’s first term, allowing it to reorganize its export routes. He explained that part of its Mexican and Indian production would cover demand in the U.S. market, while Brazil will serve other markets.

“We can reallocate our export losses. We can use Brazil to meet demand from Mexico and India and use production from these countries to serve the American market. It is an execution that can take a few months and, after all this change, we hope that we can mitigate most of these impacts,” he said.

The Brazilian company already has a plant in Atotonilco de Tula, Hidalgo. In January, it opened a new facility that spans 640,000 square meters, aimed at increasing its production capacity. This expansion involved an investment of over US $40 million.

WEG arrived in Mexico in 2000 as part of its international expansion strategy in Latin America. Over the years, the company has expanded its presence with five manufacturing units: two in Huehuetoca (motors and transformers), one in Tizayuca (power transformers), and two in Atotonilco de Tula, Hidalgo, dedicated to electric motors, industrial coatings and automation.

To date, the company has over 1.2 million square meters of surface area in Mexico, employing around 4,000 employees.

With reports from Solili, Somos Industria and Bloomberg

Why do Mexicans eat pan de muerto all year long?

By

Andrea Fischer

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October 23, 2025

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Pan de muerto — For over five centuries, pan de muerto has been eaten exclusively during the Day of the Dead festivities. Why are wholesale companies selling it all year long these days, then? (J. Méndez/Wikimedia Commons - Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 2.0)

This happened in July 2024. My father came home with a big smile on his face, carrying an enormous white box.

“It’s a surprise, he said with a grin, but everyone should wait until dessert to find out what that was all about.”

So we waited.

After lunch, he opened the box in front of my sister, mother and me: “Pan de muerto!”, he exclaimed, excitedly.

I thanked him, of course, but something seemed off: Pan de muerto in summer?! It felt almost like sacrilege, since it is a treat exclusive to the Day of the Dead in Mexico, which happens every year on November 1 and 2.

So why do contemporary Mexicans eat pan de muerto all year long, you may ask? As it happens, my father is not the only Mexican who craves this traditional sugary bread year-round.. Tradition dictates otherwise, but… is tradition being crushed by our overwhelming desire to eat this sweet bread beyond the November festivities?

What is pan de muerto, and when should it be eaten, traditionally?

Pan de muerto is unmissable across Mexico: it’s a round, wonderfully fluffy piece of bread sprinkled all over with white sugar and featuring handcrafted bread cylinders resembling human bones on top. As a child, the first thing I did was eat this “button” on top.

Traditionally, pan de muerto is baked and eaten by families to welcome their beloved departed back home during the November festivities. (Carlos Carbajal/Cuartoscuro)

Nowadays, you can find it practically anywhere. Originally, however, it was more easily found in Mexico’s central and southern regions.

The tradition dates back to the time of the Spanish conquest, when the Spaniards, horrified by ritual human sacrifices performed by the Mexica, made a wheat bread that was dipped in sugar painted red to symbolize a heart and the sacrificed person’s blood. The toasted bread cylinders I mentioned earlier are, indeed, representations of human bones.

“Eating the dead is a true pleasure for Mexicans”, wrote INAH researcher José Luis Curiel Monteagudo in the 1999 book “Azucadores afanes, dulces y panes” (Sugary Desires, Sweets and Breads). “The phenomenon is embraced with respect and irony; death is defied; they mock it by eating [pan de muerto].”

Curiel was right about that: Mexicans cultivate a devotional relationship with death, worshipping her through our traditions. We even eat human bones — symbolically, of course!

The size of bread and the number of “bones” in pan de muerto change depending on the region. In the southwestern state of Oaxaca, artisans draw intricate patterns on the bread’s surface. In Mexico City’s Coyoacán neighborhood — home of Mexican art legend Frida Kahlo — it’s a centuries-old tradition to eat it with nata, a rich cream popular in Mexico. However, the essence remains the same: a round, fluffy piece of bread topped with a delicious sugar coating and the unmistakable smell of orange blossom.

Even today, 500 years after its creation, pan de muerto remains one of Mexico’s most beloved seasonal treats. According to Statista’s latest poll, nearly 94% of respondents said they consumed pan de muerto during the Fall festivities. Namely, on Nov. 1 and 2.

Yes, that’s right: Nine out of 10 Mexicans cannot fathom Día de Muertos without pan de muerto — and possibly champurrado or café de olla too.

Cempasúchil, chocolate and more recently, matcha pan de muerto are among the favorite flavors these days. In Mexico City’s Roma/Condesa area, I’ve seen bakeries offer even the Dubai (what?) flavor, featuring pistachios. However, you can still find the more traditional recipes in local markets, the best places to have of the full experience.

Are supermarkets meddling with a sacred tradition?

I created a poll on my personal Instagram account on this subject. The question was: “What do you think of the fact that pan de muerto is sold all year long?” Most of my friends and inner circle are, of course, Mexicans. And, yes, some of us tend to be strongly opinionated — especially about our traditions.

When asked their thoughts on the matter, Yulied Rivera, 33, a local physiotherapy student, told me, “It takes away what makes it special.”

Another respondent pointed out, “As humans, we need rituals.” If these items are available off-season, they added, “That [feeling] blurs away.”

Chipilo bakers Francisco García Castillo and Verónica Avana Trejo — Is the mass production of pan de muerto damaging an ancient tradition? (Joseph Sorrentino)

Restaurant owner and chef Pablo Porras poignantly said, “These capitalist transgressions gradually degrade traditions and their meanings.”

For him, as a local business owner who values the artisanal preparation of seasonal dishes, the worst part is the loss of ingredient quality.

“[The recipe] tends to be modified to facilitate their production […], thus changing their ‘original’ or distinctive flavor.”

In the specific case of pan de muerto, Porras told MND, supermarkets and foreign companies don’t use the traditional orange blossom, “an expensive and scarce ingredient rarely found in pan de muerto from a chain store.”

Although these companies’ products do meet consumer demand, the flavors of the past are being replaced by industrial ones. Bread artisans who maintain the use of the original flavors have to sell their products at extremely high prices, “often inaccessible to the common folk,” he said.

So, in that sense, yes, supermarkets and multinational chains are meddling with a sacred tradition. In the end, we eat pan de muerto to welcome our beloved departed back from the realm of the dead, just for one day every year. We pray, we dance, we celebrate their return with these symbols of joy. We also feel a tinge of nostalgia.

Yet, although I’m often a naysayer and like to complain about these kinds of things, I would never deny my father his big smile when he finds pan de muerto at his closest supermarket — even if it’s summer and there are months to go until we meet again with my deceased grandparents. And, yes, I would probably join him in eating a not-so-traditional pan de muerto.

I’m sure Grandma and Grandpa would be happy for him and enjoy an off-season dessert with us too.

Andrea Fischer contributes to the features desk at Mexico News Daily. She has edited and written for National Geographic en Español and Muy Interesante México, and continues to be an advocate for anything that screams science. Or yoga. Or both.

The Friar Francisco de Burgoa Library and Oaxaca’s cultural renaissance

By

Ena Aguilar

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October 23, 2025

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The Friar Francisco de Burgoa Library in Oaxaca City is home to over five centuries of specialized knowledge. It aims to support the local community in accessing it. (La Universidad Autónoma Benito Juárez de Oaxaca)

Nestled within the magnificent walls of the Centro Cultural Santo Domingo in Oaxaca City, the Friar Francisco de Burgoa Library stands as one of Mexico’s most extraordinary repositories of historical knowledge and cultural heritage.

This remarkable library, housed in what was once the Dominican monastery of Santo Domingo de Guzmán, represents far more than a simple collection of books — it is a living testament to the intellectual and spiritual legacy of colonial Mexico.

The Friar Francisco de Burgoa Library’s story begins in the 16th century, when Dominican friars established their monastery — an architectural masterpiece that took nearly one century to complete — in what would become one of New Spain’s most important religious and educational centers.

The baroque splendor of the complex, with its intricate stone carvings, soaring vaulted ceilings and elaborate gold-leafed altarpieces, provides a breathtaking backdrop for one of Latin America’s most significant historical collections.

The Burgoa collection: Treasures beyond measure

The library’s name honors Francisco de Burgoa, a 17th-century Dominican friar whose works provide invaluable insights into the early colonial period in Oaxaca. Burgoa’s own writings are his own chronicles of the Dominican activities with the Indigenous cultures of Mexico. When the Dominican missionaries who curated the Burgoa selected which books to bring to the New World, they were making choices that would shape intellectual life in colonial Mexico for centuries to come.

The library is one of Latin America’s most significant repositories of early printed books and manuscripts. The nearly 40,000 volumes housed here include priceless works on theology, philosophy, natural history, linguistics and ethnography that span five centuries of human knowledge and creativity and provide unparalleled insights into colonial intellectual life.

At its core lies the historic collection of the Dominican convent, featuring incunabula, manuscripts and rare books. The incunabula collection, among the library’s most precious holdings, dates back to the historical moment when the age of manuscripts was giving way to the age of the printing press.

Among the crown jewels of the collection is a copy of the Nuremberg Chronicle (Liber Chronicarum) by Hartmann Schedel, printed by Anton Koberger in 1493. This massive work, one of the most ambitious publishing projects of the 15th century, contains over 1,800 woodcut illustrations and represents a comprehensive attempt to chronicle world history from creation to the contemporary period. The Burgoa copy is particularly significant because it arrived in Mexico during the early colonial period, making it one of the first illustrated world histories available in the Americas.

Housed within the former walls of a monastic convent, the Friar Francisco de Burgoa Library boasts one of the world’s great collections of literary works. (La Universidad Autónoma Benito Juárez de Oaxaca)

The collection also houses remarkable examples of early printing in the Americas, including works produced by the pioneering presses of Mexico City and Puebla. These volumes demonstrate the rapid adoption and adaptation of European printing technology in the New World.

The Friar Francisco de Burgoa Library today

The physical setting of the Burgoa Library is as remarkable as its collections. Housed within the former monastic cells and common areas of the Dominican convent, the library spaces retain much of their original architectural character while incorporating modern conservation and research facilities.

The main reading room occupies what was once the convent’s refectory, where Dominican friars gathered for communal meals and spiritual reflection.

A rare open-door policy

While the Burgoa Library’s historical collections form its foundation, the institution has evolved into a dynamic center for contemporary scholarship and cultural research. The library regularly hosts visiting scholars from universities and research institutions throughout Mexico and internationally.

But most importantly, unlike many prestigious libraries around the world that house similar collections — institutions like the Beinecke Rare Book Library at Yale, the Bodleian Library at Oxford or the Vatican Apostolic Library — the Burgoa Library operates under a fundamentally different philosophy regarding access to its treasures. While those renowned institutions often require extensive credentials, academic affiliations or special permissions to access their rare materials — the assumption underlying these restrictions being that rare books and manuscripts are too precious and fragile to be handled by anyone but qualified scholars — the Friar Francisco de Burgoa Library maintains an open-door policy that reflects a deeply democratic understanding of knowledge and cultural heritage.

The Friar Francisco de Burgoa Library challenges this paradigm by recognizing that cultural heritage belongs to the community from which it emerged. The collection is viewed not as the exclusive domain of the academic but as a shared inheritance that should be available to all members of society.

A scenic overlook of the historic cityscape of Oaxaca city, Mexico. The city is seen nestled in a valley surrounded by hazy mountains. — The city of Oaxaca is a book lover’s destination — if you know where to look. (Caleb Bennetts)

The library’s success in balancing preservation with access, historical scholarship with contemporary relevance and local identity with international collaboration offers valuable lessons for cultural institutions worldwide. As it continues to evolve and adapt to changing circumstances, the Burgoa Library remains an essential resource for anyone seeking to understand this rich cultural heritage.

Social anthropologist and photojournalist Ena Aguilar Peláez writes on health, culture, rights, and the environment, with a strong interest in intercultural interactions and historical and cultural settings.